Hintertux Ski Resort Skiing & Snowboarding
Hintertux Glacier ski resort is blessed with a crown of north facing glaciers that provide the basis for it’s 365 days a year operation.
The thing one notices on the way to the top of Hintertux Glacier is that resort’s vertical skiable terrain is sadly split in half near Sommerberg. Having said that, one can still ski a full 1300m vertical from top of Gefrorene Wand (3,250m) down to bottom of the Sessellift 6er chair at 1950m.
Whilst there is precious little at the top of the resort at Gefrorene Wand other than a cool (cold actually!) rooftop terrace and access to ice caves, the views are stupendous. From here one quickly understands Hintertux Glacier’s strength - an intermediate skier & snowboarder's paradise.
Ski Lifts
Hintertux Glacier’s lift system is starting to show its age, but still delivers skiers efficiently around the slopes. From the valley, Gletchscherbus 1, 2 and 3 are a series of efficient 24 person gondolas (tele cabins) going to very top of 3,250m at Gefrorene Wand. The gondolas are all separate and one must exit each top station to get into next one. A smaller and more economical 8-person gondola runs after the morning rush to Sommerberg.
In the Sommerberg sector, take the escalator up fromthe gondola station to the Tuxerjoch 4er chair and a short (70m vert) beginners T-bar. The excellent funslope is located here. The sector recieves some early morning sun and is the best lift for progressing beginners and intermediates. Off-piste powder can be harvested to the far skiers' right of the Tuxerjoch chair, ending on the groomers along the T-bar. The cracking return trail to the valley from the top of Tuxerjoch is a thigh testing 960m vert (trail 1). It splits off near the bottom to go to other accommodation further down valley. Also, at Sommerberg, the Sessellift 6er chair doesn’t serve any piste terrain but is just a link lift to get skiers back up the 150m vertical to Sommerberg. This marks the sad Hintertux Glacier terrain split!
From Gefrorene Wand many of the lifts are T-bars servicing glacier terrain. An exception is, the old Schlegeis 3er chair fixed grip services 300m vertical (2770 -3070m) on the sunny side of Hintertux on the ever shrinking Schlegeis Glacier. Simple intermediate piste with off-piste options left and right. Interesting off-piste descent from the Gletscherhutte under the chair.
Out wide, the Larmstange chairs serve the pick of the terrain for advanced skier and boarders. The new Larmstange 1 moves riders up diverse north-aspect powder fields & routes. Above is the Larmstange 2 which provides access to some tasty, but shortish terrain nad links into the highalpine lifts on the glaciers.
Hintertux Glacier Trail Map
The Hintertux Glacier ski trail map provides an accurate & easy to follow summary of all the lifts & terrain at the resort. More detailed maps are required to explore the glaciated freeride margins of the resort.
Check out the ski trail map for Hintertux below.
Lift Passes
Hintertux Glacier is open all year round but has a defined ‘winter' season from early October to mid-May every year. Summer skiing has a reduced lift ticket price as the terrain is limited to around 20km of trails on the upper mountain glaciers.
During the winter season, a standard Hintertux Glacier day lift ticket is valid not only at Hintertux, but also the Zillertal 3000 lifts above Tux on Eggalm, Rastkogel & Mayrhofen.
If staying for an extended period in the Zillertal, it may be advantageous to purchase a Zillertaler Superskipass. This pass is valid for all the ski resorts in the valley including Zillertal Arena, and Hochzillertal.
See here for the Zillertal SuperSkiPass ski trail map.
On-Piste Terrain
Beginners
Hintertux Glacier’s singled biggest limiting factor is its lack of many accessible pistes for beginners. Whilst the trail map indicates many blue beginner trails, the reality is that only intermediates will be able to easily access all but the lower runs. Glacier based trails on the Olperer and Kaserer T-bars require some skill to access that lower beginners will not possess. The reality is beginners are largely restricted to the area between Sommerberg and the Tuxer Joch.
Intermediate
Hintertux piste terrain is predominantly for intermediates. Long wide glacier pistes serviced by a series of T-bars will strain the legs and stretch you every time they are used. Snowboarders and short persons may find some of the T-bars challenging.
The 600m vertical descent from the Fernerhaus on piste #2 is an absolute beauty for intermediates. Similarly, the Schwarze Pfanne valley trail is one of the region’s best.
Advanced
Advanced terrain at Hintertux is limited to a couple of short piste runs. The remainder of the advanced terrain is in the off-piste, marked routes and backcountry. A number of these are fabulous and sufficiently challenging. Several of the best routes are serviced by the new Larmstange 1 chairlift. Ski routes can still be skied if the chair is not running, but the return trip will require uploading on at least 3 lifts in an awfully long loop.
Terrain Parks & Funslope
Below the looming Olperer summit, a large terrain park, named ‘Better Park’ is located entirely above 3000m. It has a range of progression features and big airs. The park is serviced by the Olperer 1 & 2 T-bars.
The Funslope was created on Hintertux Glacier for the first time back in season 16/17. Located above Sommerberg under the Tuxerjoch quad chair, the Funslope has a series of tunnels, hand slaps (tap the big hand as you ski by for some sound and movement), loops, figure 8s, berms, jumps and tabletops. Is fun for the kids, ok for adults if with kids and a reasonable distraction if the snow is crap and there is nothing more fun to do!
Off-Piste & Backcountry
There is not alot at Hintertux that is obvious for expert freeriders; however, there are many options on the margins for the more adventurous, and with a little reconnaissance, particularly if the snowpack is deep all the way to the valley base. Caution & knowledge is required. We will leave it at that!
There are loads of straightforward off-piste opportunities on the mountain. A series of freeride routes run down the mountain from below the Tuxer Ferner at 2,600m. Of all the routes, number 13 is the most interesting in good snow cover. In good conditions the valley route (1a-Waldabfahrt) would be worth a look after one does a screaming descent on the excellent (previously mentioned) valley piste (#1). The forests near 1a can be skied when the snow level is deep down low. If in doubt about your skills or navigation, get a mountain guide or ski instructor to help you.
